Reminder: We don't do name calling here. No "tRump" or "Drumpf" or any of that. Use people's right names. We're all grownups and this isn't a Facebook group. Thanks guys.
I would include What's App. The latter is the only one I use of the 3, and I only use it with people who do not have Signal, which is far too many. My entire family, including my 90-year-old mother who has dementia uses Signal. My husband, daughter and I are also planning on adding on Threema, since it is Swiss platformed and hopefully out of the Trump-o-sphere. That is also why I recommend getting a VPN, and also looking at getting non-US emails. These are things we have done as well. Exiting the capitulating Tech bro sphere might be a good idea.
I also can't stand to type his name. I prefer an insulting nickname, but I'm a guest here. I always strive to be a good houseguest. Your house, your rules.
I quit using his name when I saw his comment about how his name alone is worth billions. I won't use an insulting nickname, but I also won't use his name, since the T-word is the new c-word, for me. I don't use it when speaking or writing.
Can relate. JVL called me out on the use of my favorite nickname for Ross Douthat a couple years back. His rules do make for a more palatable and professional comment section, and I appreciate that.
I 100% agree with this, and have never liked referring to Trump by any euphemism. However, as I responded to this particular post, and pondered just HOW pathetic Zuckerberg has been this month, I found my self EXTREMELY tempted to place the word "cuck" in there..
Sheesh - I just spent all night coming up with the "Naranja Nazareth." Oh, well. On the plus side, this isn't going to keep me from finally making "fetch" happen.
My dad, who came from transplanted "hillbilly" stock of Arkansas and was the first person in his family to graduate high school and go to college, used to say that anyone who used a swear word simply demonstrated their lack of intelligence because there was always a better, more couth word available to use to get the point across most exquisitely. I have, to some extent, however, much to my chagrin, adopted some of the habits of my young adult children....
For the record "fetch" has been a stand-in Mormon swear word since the late 70's. We all used it. I used it when I said I would never say the "F" word again after high school. I used "fetch" until November 2024 when Trump was announced the winner and I said the "F" word for the first time in 45 years
I was bad with language in high school. Actually got smacked up side the head by a teacher (back in the day when it wasn't an issue) and it was deserved.
Swear words are so overused that in some sense they have become meaningless. That’s too bad. One well place swear word can really get attention/relieve stress where something else doesn’t. My father very, very seldom swore. But when he did we would head for the hills.
It felt good. I haven't told anyone other than here but I did tell family with that record going for me it would take something insane to make me use that word (I laugh because I can't stop using it now, though always when I am alone)
Surrender Monkey is not name calling? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a little name calling, especially when it's well deserved. I always thought "orange idol" had a ring to it, or even Domestic J. Terrorist. Charlie used to indulge.
Well, the problem that I see with using t***p is that the Jewish restriction of typing the name G*d.....I can't see t***p without seeing G*d and that connection is just NOT going to work for me!
JVL, Is Trumpster ok? My motto is: some snark, some sarcasm but always with sense of humor and civil. By the way, I'm looking forward to Huddled Masses. He will provide in depth on this issue that others won't.
But but…THEY made me (create a fact checking community) I didn’t want to…whimper whimper. Ever see a big dog with his back legs lowered and shaking, submitting to a smaller very fierce dog? You watch and think - does that big dog not know his own size? Apparently small dog insecurity never go away no matter how big you are. (I really wish I didn’t have to see n feel mortified all over again RE billionaire who feels he must let everyone know what they already know - I’m CEO bitch)
One of the most underappreciated aspects,with respect to all of the versions of capitulation we have witnessed over the last eight years from all corners of republican government and now increasingly in the media and the private sector is the very real and now ever increasing threat of violence to the families and the individuals who do not genuflect. David Phrum was right to point out on the daily pod with Tim that it is very easy for us who don't have a big bull's-eye on our backs to condescendingly call out Morning Joe, the FBI Director, Bezos, etc. etc. So, aside from apathy what is to be done? I personally have no idea, but would like to suggest one course of action that spring boards off of the great JVL's recent point in the triad that Joe Biden and Merrick Garland take a full metal jacket approach to implementing whatever necessary actions/executive order they see fit before leaving office with the knowledge that Biden has full immunity and full pardon power. "When all else fails, what remains must contain the solution." - Sherlock Holmes.
1) It should be clear that an immense proportion of the power of "tech bros" depends on advertising dollars. Who cares about Zuckerberg? It's just that his platform(s) has/have an audience and advertisers support it.
2) It should also be clear that both the tech bros, who apparently read Ayn Rand in college to become libertarians, and the press have bought into (explicitly or implicitly) the Rand's "John Galt" theory of modern society: a handful of CEO innovators drive the economy, and if they go on strike, society will collapse. Musk seems to be operating on that theory, unless he's just stoned. I don't but this theory. Zuckerberg is obviously someone who just cares about his ad revenue and has not significant opinions. It's disappointing to see internet links along the lines of subjects such as, "Mark Cuban answers Musk", etc.
There's been a lot of talk about how the Tech billionaires read Ayn Rand in college, and became libertarians. One shouldn't overlook, in "Atlas Shrugged", that Rand posited that CEOs and corporate leaders are the drivers of modern civilization and economies. The alternative -- the truth is somewhere in between -- is that the tech bros may be important, but they function within an ecosystem that depends on a lot of other people and systems. It seems clear that Musk has bought into the "John Galt" mythos -- if he's not just stoned, an alternative hypothesis. And the press is following every burp and fart by these tech bros.
I subscribe here, but also recommend The Guardian. It has great coverage for both US and world news....funded via a trust but subscribers help its mission. I gave up decades long subs at WAPO and NYTimes....rather see my funds support journalism including investigative journalism like Pro Publica. I only use FB now for a leukemia support group that I follow...otherwise if I post, it's always link to story critical of Meta et al....
A day late to the comment section (this piece was fire, JVL!), with an observation from my spouse, a Corporate Guy: "I wonder if we're going to see more of this -- where one of T's cronies is placed on the board of every major corporation to keep an eye on things." Yikes!
The only way to counter Musk’s and Zuckerberg’s unrelenting greed for power and wealth is for decent people to quit their social media. If a mass exodus from their platforms doesn’t change their capitulation to authoritarianism, then our American democracy is on life support!
I'm only on Instagram; I quit Facebook after the 2016 election. I'm not sure if I'll quit Instagram -- it's tough to be wholly without social media nowadays, especially with family and friends spread across the globe. But I have a standing order with my financial advisor NOT to invest in "Meta," and I'm good with that decision.
Reminder: We don't do name calling here. No "tRump" or "Drumpf" or any of that. Use people's right names. We're all grownups and this isn't a Facebook group. Thanks guys.
In my home we refer to this person as "Monsieur Rigaud," the evil character from Dicken's "Little Dorrit." Wonderfully played by Andy Serkis in the video via BBC! Is that OK? https://www.bbc.co.uk/littledorrit/characterandcast/rigaud.shtml
I love this series. Great name for Trump.
Robert Hubbell refers to this piece in his post today, and he says that people should be exiting Facebook and Instagram.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roberthubbell/p/a-maddening-day-confirms-our-mission?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I would include What's App. The latter is the only one I use of the 3, and I only use it with people who do not have Signal, which is far too many. My entire family, including my 90-year-old mother who has dementia uses Signal. My husband, daughter and I are also planning on adding on Threema, since it is Swiss platformed and hopefully out of the Trump-o-sphere. That is also why I recommend getting a VPN, and also looking at getting non-US emails. These are things we have done as well. Exiting the capitulating Tech bro sphere might be a good idea.
Thank you! I find the nicknames absolutely exhausting. Judicious use only please!
“And this isn’t a Facebook group”
Well played sir! JVL, you are one of them smart guys aren’t you?
JVL - should we just call him "Sir"?
New movie: To Sir with no love.
With tears in our eyes.
I also can't stand to type his name. I prefer an insulting nickname, but I'm a guest here. I always strive to be a good houseguest. Your house, your rules.
I quit using his name when I saw his comment about how his name alone is worth billions. I won't use an insulting nickname, but I also won't use his name, since the T-word is the new c-word, for me. I don't use it when speaking or writing.
Can relate. JVL called me out on the use of my favorite nickname for Ross Douthat a couple years back. His rules do make for a more palatable and professional comment section, and I appreciate that.
When I'm really, really angry, I call him Mr. Donald J. Trump. That's how you know I'm furious. And a Mom.
He'll never get a "Mr." from me.
Yeah, mom using my middle name meant trouble! :)
Thanks buddy.
Just as I was going to change it from maggot Mussolini to maggot Mobutu...🤷♀️😉
I'm still nursing a grudge about your Phillies City Connect jersey. :)
I can never bear to write his name but I don't believe in stupid names. I just write or say DJT.
The same here. As a former administrator at Rikers Island, all I can manage is DJT.
Technically, his name is Zuckerberg, not Zuck.
I like “Donald J Trump-Musk.” All spelled correctly including capitalization .
A four-wheel-drive autocrat.
I 100% agree with this, and have never liked referring to Trump by any euphemism. However, as I responded to this particular post, and pondered just HOW pathetic Zuckerberg has been this month, I found my self EXTREMELY tempted to place the word "cuck" in there..
Sheesh - I just spent all night coming up with the "Naranja Nazareth." Oh, well. On the plus side, this isn't going to keep me from finally making "fetch" happen.
My dad, who came from transplanted "hillbilly" stock of Arkansas and was the first person in his family to graduate high school and go to college, used to say that anyone who used a swear word simply demonstrated their lack of intelligence because there was always a better, more couth word available to use to get the point across most exquisitely. I have, to some extent, however, much to my chagrin, adopted some of the habits of my young adult children....
For the record "fetch" has been a stand-in Mormon swear word since the late 70's. We all used it. I used it when I said I would never say the "F" word again after high school. I used "fetch" until November 2024 when Trump was announced the winner and I said the "F" word for the first time in 45 years
Aw, holy heck! ;-D
I envy you your discipline. I have what some refer to as a pottymouth, especially when I am reading the news these days.
I was bad with language in high school. Actually got smacked up side the head by a teacher (back in the day when it wasn't an issue) and it was deserved.
My profanity mostly occurs when I am by myself, reading about MAGA and their leader. It’s rather like letting the steam out of a tea kettle.
Swear words are so overused that in some sense they have become meaningless. That’s too bad. One well place swear word can really get attention/relieve stress where something else doesn’t. My father very, very seldom swore. But when he did we would head for the hills.
Yep!
Given your years of restraint, I imagine that "F" word erupted from your mouth with the white hot fury of a thousand suns.
It felt good. I haven't told anyone other than here but I did tell family with that record going for me it would take something insane to make me use that word (I laugh because I can't stop using it now, though always when I am alone)
Surrender Monkey is not name calling? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a little name calling, especially when it's well deserved. I always thought "orange idol" had a ring to it, or even Domestic J. Terrorist. Charlie used to indulge.
It’s a description not a substitution. If I referred to Zuckerberg as “Surrender Monkey” that would be wrong.
Also, it’s a Simpsons joke.
So is it’s OK to say that Trump’s face looks like an orange left out in the rain?
A distinction without difference.
Can we describe Trump as a mango Mussolini? I always liked that description.
Occassionally, sure. Just don't let it be a crutch.
If we're "going Simpsons," then there might be some joy in a monkey knife fight.
Folks, can we take a pause in demeaning monkeys? After all, they had the sense to stop evolving into...us!
hahahahaha, Greywolfe!
I use trump because he doesn’t deserve the respect of having his name capitalized.
I will go to this if needed, personally I use t***p. I don't care for the silly names either.
Well, the problem that I see with using t***p is that the Jewish restriction of typing the name G*d.....I can't see t***p without seeing G*d and that connection is just NOT going to work for me!
Broke your own rule... .Just sayin'.
JVL, Is Trumpster ok? My motto is: some snark, some sarcasm but always with sense of humor and civil. By the way, I'm looking forward to Huddled Masses. He will provide in depth on this issue that others won't.
I like "Dumpster"
I can live with that.
Thanks. I thought you could.
Can we do all caps (TRUMP) like Japanese wrestling used to do for heels?
I’ll allow it.
The responses are just a gift!!!!!! Humor…. Will Rogers would probably be proud and add some of his own…..
JVL, you're the best. Such a softie!
But but…THEY made me (create a fact checking community) I didn’t want to…whimper whimper. Ever see a big dog with his back legs lowered and shaking, submitting to a smaller very fierce dog? You watch and think - does that big dog not know his own size? Apparently small dog insecurity never go away no matter how big you are. (I really wish I didn’t have to see n feel mortified all over again RE billionaire who feels he must let everyone know what they already know - I’m CEO bitch)
No integrity. Shame on him.
Chillingly accurate.
Zuck wants his congressional testimonies to end and Trump to protect him from EU fines.
MAGA is a gang. Their appeal: Join us, and you can get away with whatever it is you want to get away with.
I’ve read through quite a few comments JVL, and have yet to see any applause for your apt branding “surrender monkeys”.
Exactly what they are.
Nice.
I deleted Facebook yesterday and happy to do so.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talked about the whole dynamic w Musk and trump on their Pivot podcast. And Musk and TSLA stock price.
One of the most underappreciated aspects,with respect to all of the versions of capitulation we have witnessed over the last eight years from all corners of republican government and now increasingly in the media and the private sector is the very real and now ever increasing threat of violence to the families and the individuals who do not genuflect. David Phrum was right to point out on the daily pod with Tim that it is very easy for us who don't have a big bull's-eye on our backs to condescendingly call out Morning Joe, the FBI Director, Bezos, etc. etc. So, aside from apathy what is to be done? I personally have no idea, but would like to suggest one course of action that spring boards off of the great JVL's recent point in the triad that Joe Biden and Merrick Garland take a full metal jacket approach to implementing whatever necessary actions/executive order they see fit before leaving office with the knowledge that Biden has full immunity and full pardon power. "When all else fails, what remains must contain the solution." - Sherlock Holmes.
Why do we care? Two points:
1) It should be clear that an immense proportion of the power of "tech bros" depends on advertising dollars. Who cares about Zuckerberg? It's just that his platform(s) has/have an audience and advertisers support it.
2) It should also be clear that both the tech bros, who apparently read Ayn Rand in college to become libertarians, and the press have bought into (explicitly or implicitly) the Rand's "John Galt" theory of modern society: a handful of CEO innovators drive the economy, and if they go on strike, society will collapse. Musk seems to be operating on that theory, unless he's just stoned. I don't but this theory. Zuckerberg is obviously someone who just cares about his ad revenue and has not significant opinions. It's disappointing to see internet links along the lines of subjects such as, "Mark Cuban answers Musk", etc.
There's been a lot of talk about how the Tech billionaires read Ayn Rand in college, and became libertarians. One shouldn't overlook, in "Atlas Shrugged", that Rand posited that CEOs and corporate leaders are the drivers of modern civilization and economies. The alternative -- the truth is somewhere in between -- is that the tech bros may be important, but they function within an ecosystem that depends on a lot of other people and systems. It seems clear that Musk has bought into the "John Galt" mythos -- if he's not just stoned, an alternative hypothesis. And the press is following every burp and fart by these tech bros.
Nicolle Wallace just gave this article a shout-out and quoted some of it. :-)
I subscribe here, but also recommend The Guardian. It has great coverage for both US and world news....funded via a trust but subscribers help its mission. I gave up decades long subs at WAPO and NYTimes....rather see my funds support journalism including investigative journalism like Pro Publica. I only use FB now for a leukemia support group that I follow...otherwise if I post, it's always link to story critical of Meta et al....
A day late to the comment section (this piece was fire, JVL!), with an observation from my spouse, a Corporate Guy: "I wonder if we're going to see more of this -- where one of T's cronies is placed on the board of every major corporation to keep an eye on things." Yikes!
The only way to counter Musk’s and Zuckerberg’s unrelenting greed for power and wealth is for decent people to quit their social media. If a mass exodus from their platforms doesn’t change their capitulation to authoritarianism, then our American democracy is on life support!
Zuck only cares about his income. He doesn’t care about about the teens or propaganda. He only cares about his hide away in Hawaii.
I'm only on Instagram; I quit Facebook after the 2016 election. I'm not sure if I'll quit Instagram -- it's tough to be wholly without social media nowadays, especially with family and friends spread across the globe. But I have a standing order with my financial advisor NOT to invest in "Meta," and I'm good with that decision.